Fusion earns second at Brainerd

The Melrose-Sauk Centre boys' swimming and diving team had an outstanding showing in a tough field at the Brainerd Invitational on Friday with a second-place finish to their credit.


The Mainstreeters girls' basketball team beat Crosby-Ironton (5-3) 60-44 to win the Pierz tournament on Saturday night. They put their 7-0 record on the line on Tuesday, Jan. 7 at Albany when they face the 10th-ranked team in Class 3A.

On Friday, the Prairie Centre Area North Stars boys' hockey team beat Minnehaha Academy 5-2 for their eighth win of the season while winning the tournament title. The Redhawks fall to 6-4 overall with the loss.

Check next week's Sauk Centre Herald to read more.

Shut out win for the North Stars

The Prairie Centre Area North Stars boys' hockey team earned a 5-0 shut out win over Fairmont in the opening round of the Minnehaha Academy tournament in Minneapolis on Thursday.

Now 7-4 overall, the North Stars face the host Redhawks (6-3) in the tournament championship today at 7 p.m.

Also today, the Mainstreeters girls' basketball team competes at the Pierz tournament at 8 p.m., while the M-SC Fusion boys' swimming and diving team is at the Brainerd Invitational (1 p.m.).

Good luck to all competitors and safe travels for all players, coaches and fans today.

(Video) Coach Schreiner talks about the Fusion's 3-0 start

Video:

Mainstreeter boys lose shootout in overtime

The Mainstreeters boys' basketball team lost a shoot out against Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City by a 91-89 final score in overtime on Friday night. Sauk Centre trailed by as many as 15 points in the second half before storming back to force overtime with the score tied 80-80 after regulation play ended.

The Mainstreeters shot just under 50 percent by launching 74 field goals and hitting 35 of them. They were 9-of-23 on the three-point line and 10-of-15 at the free throw line. Josh Buschette's 23 points and five three-pointers led Sauk Centre, who fell to 7-2 overall.

It was their first West Central Conference loss after a 3-0 start in the league.

Exciting thriller won by Fusion swimming and diving team

At the Dassel-Cokato pool against Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato tonight, the Melrose-Sauk Centre Fusion boys' swimming and diving team picked up their third win of the season against no losses by a 96-90 score.

Co-head coach James Schreiner reported that the Fusion didn't lead the entire night until after the final event, the 400 freestyle relay. Facing a sizeable deficit in the team points, the Fusion got a huge 1st/2nd finish in the 100 backstroke with John Schwieters and Isaac Schreiner gaining the top two spots.

In the 100 breaststroke, the Fusion got a crucial 2nd/3rd/4th finish to gain momentum before clinching the win with great performances in the last event.

M-SC now has a ragged practice schedule around the Christmas holiday before traveling to a very tough Brainerd tournament on Friday, Dec. 27.

Read more coach's comments from the past week of action in this week's Sauk Centre Herald.

A few other sports updates from tonight:
The Mainstreeters boys' basketball team stayed undefeated in the West Central Conference with an 85-70 win over visiting Minnewaska Area. They led 45-34 at the break.

The Prairie Centre Area boys' hockey team won their sixth game in a row with a 6-2 final score at the Benson Civic Arena over the winless Morris/Benson Area Storm. The North Stars are 6-3 overall and put their win streak on the line against undefeated (7-0) and fourth-ranked St. Cloud Cathedral tomorrow night (Dec. 20) at the MAC in St. Cloud.

This was noteworthy: the Melrose Area Dutchmen boys' basketball team defeated a very good Montevideo squad tonight in a WCC game by a final score of 64-63 in overtime. They've got a big day coming up for their basketball program on Saturday...be sure to read a copy of the Melrose Beacon to learn more about that.

Tomorrow night, the Mainstreeters boys' and girls' basketball teams travel to Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City high school for a WCC double-header. The varsity girls play at 6 p.m. in the main gymnasium, while the B-squad boys play at that time in the auxiliary gym. They switch for the nightcap around 7:45 p.m., when the varsity boys and B-squad girls tip off.

Mixed bag for varsity sports teams

The good news first.

In non-conference boys' hockey action tonight, Prairie Centre Area defeated Redwood Valley/BOLD 8-2 in Redwood County. The North Stars improve to 5-3 overall and travel to Benson this Thursday to face Morris/Benson Area (0-7) in a Section 6A match up.

The Mainstreeters girls' basketball team pounded on Paynesville Area in an 82-40 win.

The Melrose-Sauk Centre Fusion boys' swimming and diving team defeated visiting Alexandria 99-87 in an exciting home dual win.

The Sauk Centre-Melrose wrestling team (2-5 overall) dropped two West Central Conference duals in a home triangular. They lost 45-25 to Quad County and 39-31 to Paynesville Area. In the other dual, Quad County topped Paynesville 39-33.

At St. Cloud, the Mainstreeters boys' basketball team suffered their first loss of the year by a 63-58 final score to St. Cloud Cathedral. The Crusaders are 6-2 overall, while the Mainstreeters are 6-1. Up next is a home game against Minnewaska Area in a key West Central North Conference meeting this Thursday night.

Read more on all the action in this week's Sauk Centre Herald.

SC-M wrestling gets two wins

At a quadrangular in Melrose on Friday night, Sauk Centre-Melrose won two matches and lost one in wrestling action. They beat Prairie Valley 57-16 and Osakis 39-33 before losing to Holdingford 38-36.

Jordan Winter, Antonio Ortiz and Rodrigo Milla all went 3-0.

Up next: a triangular in Sauk Centre starting at 5 p.m. next Tuesday night, Dec.17.

Streeter girls dominate Lady Dutchmen

The Mainstreeters demolished cross town rival Melrose Friday night in girls’ basketball, 70-29.

Sauk made nine three-pointers, led by Shania Baum, who was 3-for-5 from beyond the arc, and finished with 11 points. Amanda Weir led the Streeters with 12 points and Madison Greenwaldt added 10.

Sauk dominated early and never looked back as they opened up a huge halftime lead. Melrose couldn’t get the ball in close and struggled with shooting from the perimeter.

The win improves the Streeters to 3-0 on the season. They will travel to Paynesville next Tuesday. For more on Friday’s game and on Tuesday‘s match up check out next week’s Sauk Centre Herald.

Deters, Stars shut out Litchfield

Clay Deters stopped 24 shots as the Prairie Centre North Stars defeated Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato 1-0 in front of a large crowd at the Sauk centre Civic Arena Friday night.
Cody Steward, back in action for his second game after serving a four-game suspension at the beginning of the year due to an on-ice fracas in the Stars' last game a year ago, scored the game's lone goal when he netted one while the Stars were short handed. It was his first goal of the season.
Deters and the Prairie Centre defense did the rest. The Stars had two close chances late to put the game away with an empty netter but narrowly missed both times.
The win improves the Stars to 3-3 and is their third win in a row. They beat Wadena-Deer Creek 7-1 on Tuesday.
They will travel to Bagley/Fosston on Saturday.

Photos and video from Friday's game below:

(Watch the final minute here:)

Mainstreeter boys' basketball is 6-0

A hard-fought 64-61 win was the outcome of the Sauk Centre vs. Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta boys' basketball game tonight in Morris. The West Central North Conference win improves the Mainstreeters' overall record to 6-0 and 2-0 in the league.

With just under a minute to go, two MA/CA free throws gave the host Tigers a 61-59 lead. Matthew Moritz then drained the go-ahead score with 29 seconds on the clock with a three-pointer to put Sauk Centre on top for good. The Mainstreeters led 37-31 at halftime and built their lead as large as 16 points in the second half over the winless Tigers (0-5, 0-4 WCCN).

Josh Buschette was the leading scorer with 21 points, four assists and three steals. For the game, Sauk Centre shot 25-of-57 from the floor.

Up next: a tough road trip to the St. Cloud Metro Area, where they'll square off with St. Cloud Cathedral. The Crusaders, members of Section 5AA, are 5-2 overall and one of just two unbeaten teams left in the Granite Ridge Conference. They also have a potent offense with a 72 points-per-game average. Sauk Centre is no slouch either, of course, as they have a 73.5 points-per-game average so far.

Two Sauk Centre teams are in action at home Friday night in Sauk Centre: Prairie Centre Area boys' hockey and the Mainstreeters girls' basketball team. The SC-M wrestling team also has a home event, a quadrangular down in Melrose that starts at 5 p.m.

Streeters win big over Montevideo

Watch Madison Greenwaldt go coast-to-coast for the Streeters in their lopsided win over Montevideo Tuesday to improve to 2-0 on the season. For game stats and story be sure to grab a copy of this week's Herald.

North Stars get first win

Prairie Centre Area defeated Class 2A Becker/Big Lake in non-conference boys' hockey action on Saturday in a 7-3 outcome. Both teams left the Princeton Arena with a 1-3 record after the game. Up next: a border battle, section match up and Mid-State Conference clash on Tuesday (Dec. 10) in Long Prairie against Wadena-Deer Creek. The Wolverines are 2-2 overall and 0-0 in the Mid-State Conference.

North Stars lose close one in conference opener

To start the Mid-State Conference season, the Prairie Centre Area North Stars boys' hockey team lost 1-0 to Detroit Lakes in a match played in Long Prairie on Friday night. It was the conference opener for both teams; the Lakers improve to 1-3-1 overall on the young season.

The North Stars took an 0-3 record to Princeton today to face Becker/Big Lake. No results yet on that.

In wrestling action from Friday night, SC-M finished seventh out of 10 teams at the Willmar tournament Team scoring was as follows:
1. Willmar 243
2. Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 191.5
3. Minnewaska 135
4. Saint Cloud Tech 131.5
5. Quad County 127
6. Eden Valley-Watkins 103
7. Sauk Centre-Melrose 88
8. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton/Westbrook-Walnut Grove 78
9. Benson 54
10. Willmar JV

Mainstreeter boys, girls basketball teams win

Bethany Ellis bolts down court on the fast break at Minnewaska Area in the big season-opening win. Ellis had eight points in a very balanced Sauk Centre attack. PHOTO BY MARK BEASLEY, Pope County Tribune

The Sauk Centre Mainstreeters girls' basketball team drubbed Minnewaska Area 65-39 to start the 2013-14 regular and conference season. The Lakers, playing in their third game of the season, trailed 29-22 at halftime. Sauk Centre's next game is at home next Tuesday against Montevideo.

In a home game tonight, the Sauk Centre boys' basketball team lit up Osakis in a non-conference border battle by a final score of 71-31. They are now 5-0 on the season with the next game coming on Thursday, Dec. 12 at Morris against Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta in a West Central Conference North game.

No word yet on how Prairie Centre Area fared in their boys' hockey Mid-State Conference match up with Detroit Lakes in Long Prairie tonight. The North Stars have little time for rest as they travel to Princeton tomorrow (Saturday) to face Becker/Big Lake at 1:15 p.m.

MAHCA wrestling match results

MAHACA 45, SC-M 25

106-Antonio Ortiz won (pin) :27. 113-Jordan Winter fell 6-4. 120-Nestor Vazquez fell (pin) :38. 126-Kolton Kuhlmann won 11-4. 132-Will Funk won (md) 11-1. 138-Mitchell Wolbeck fell (pin) :31. 145-Junior Perez fell (pin) :46. 152-Luke Glasener fell (pin) :58. 160-Rodrigo Milla won 9-2. 170-Dalton Reinke won (pin) 3:29. 220-Jimmy Thomas fell 7-6. 285-Charlie Barhorst won (pin) 3:15. SC-M forfeited at 182 and 195.

No word yet on how they fared in Willmar tonight.

Streeters improve to 4-0

The Sauk Centre boys' basketball team improved to 4-0 with an 84-66 win over Paynesville (2-2) Thursday night.
The Streeters trailed by three at the half but went on a second half run and outscored Paynesville 47-25.
Four players finished in double digits with junior guard Matt Moritz leading the way with 19 points. Moritz, who has been hampered by injuries early on, made 12 of 13 free throws and also sank a three-pointer. Austin Landkammer had 15, Josh Buschette had 13 points and senior point guard Seth Otte finished with 12. It was yet another balanced scoring attack which again proved the Streeters' depth.
Sauk shot 53 percent from the floor, 35 percent from beyond the arc and 81 percent from the charity stripe. They play again at home Friday against Osakis. Tip off is 7:30.

Wrestlers drop WCC opener

On Tuesday, SC-M began West Central Conference action with a dual against Morris Area/Hancock/Chokio-Alberta in Hancock. They competed with two open weights versus the three they had open in the Early Bird Invite but fell to a solid Tigers squad 45-25.

Full results will be posted later today at the Streeter Sports Blog.

SC-M wrestlers open conference play on Tuesday

The Sauk Centre-Melrose wrestling team begins West Central Conference action on Tuesday, Dec. 5 at Hancock high school. They will face Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta/Hancock with JV action starting at 6 p.m.

SC-M 6th at Early Bird

Sophomore Will Funk competed in the 132-pound bracket. PHOTO BY HERMAN LENSING

The Sauk Centre-Melrose wrestlers took sixth place with five wrestlers earning medals at the SC-Melrose Earlybird Tournament on Wednesday.

Earning medals were:  Antonio Ortiz, 106, second; Jordan Winter, 113, third; Will Funk, 132, second;  Dalton Reinke, 152, third (video below); and Jimmy Thomas, 220, fourth.

Streeters throttle Wadena 74-50

Eleven different players scored Tuesday night as the Sauk Centre boys' basketball team coasted to a 74-50 win over Wadena-Deer Creek. Austin Nelson led the Streeters with 17 points and Austin Landkammer added 10. Nelson drained four three-pointers in six attempts. Landkammer and Andrew Primus each added two three-pointers and Jay Friedrichs and Seth Otte each added one as the Streeters shot 38 percent (10-for-26) from beyond the arc. Primus finished with eight points and Otte and Josh Buschette each had seven. As a team the Streeters shot 41 percent from the floor. The win improves them to 2-0 on the season. They will travel to Long Prairie Dec. 3 to take on the Thunder, who defeated Melrose tonight 63-56. For photos and video from Tuesday's game, check back to the sports blog on Wednesday.

North Stars fall in overtime 3-2

The Prairie Centre North Stars fell in overtime tonight to River Lakes to fall to 0-2 on the season. The game was played in Sauk Centre. Noah Schmidt got the Stars on board with their first goal of the season (they lost 4-0 to St. Cloud Apollo in their opener). Schmidt was lying on his stomach when he swatted the puck in from just outside the crease. But River Lakes rallied for two goals late in the first period. The Stars tied it when Preston Pung beat the River Lakes goalie high for a short-handed goal for a 2-2 score. It stayed that way until the end of regulation. The North Stars were whistled twice in the last four minutes for penalties, but senior goalie Clay Deters made some key saves to push the game into overtime. A 5-minute boarding penalty late in the third period put the Stars short-handed for the start of the 8-minute overtime and River Lakes eventually took advantage, netting the game-winner on the power play. River Lakes outshot the Stars 22-19 after regulation, including 10-1 in the third period. Check back Wednesday for photos and video of Tuesday's game.

(Video) Girls' basketball preseason scrimmage

From Saturday's action in Sauk Centre's meeting with Litchfield:

(State swim video) Tiana Molitor 100 backstroke

From the finals round on Wednesday in Minneapolis:

Streeter boys rack up 91 in opener

The Sauk Centre boys' basketball team got off to a great start with a thrilling 91-88 win over the Upsala Cardinals Friday in Sauk Centre. Josh Buschette scored 24 points and Austin Nelson added 22 to help lead the offensive charge.

Check out next week's Herald for more on the opening night win. The Streeters will play at home Tuesday against Wadena-Deer Creek. Varsity tip off is 7:30 p.m..

Prairie Centre hockey opens season

At St. Cloud on Thursday night, the Prairie Centre Area North Stars boys' hockey team opened the 2013-14 season with a 4-0 loss to a powerful St. Cloud Apollo team.

The Eagles are the defending Section 6A champion.

Up next for the North Stars is a home game in Sauk Centre against River Lakes next Tuesday. The puck drops for the JV game at 5:15 p.m.

Check next week's Sauk Centre Herald to read more about their upcoming season.

By the way, good luck to the Mainstreeters boys' basketball team, as they host state-ranked Upsala tonight in their season opener.

(Photo gallery) Day two at the Class 1A state swimming/diving meet

Photos of Melrose, Sauk Centre and Minnewaska Area athletes:
http://saukherald.smugmug.com/2013SPORTS/Swimming/Class-1A-state-swimming-day-tw

Mainstreeters collect numerous medals at State

Tiana Molitor finished her stellar swimming and diving career in style, garnering three All-State medals today at the Class 1A state meet at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center in Minneapolis.

She and the rest of her 200 freestyle relay team members (Julie Bushard, Alyssa Kohorst, Hanna Waldhart) earned All-State medals with an eighth-place finish in today's finals. They also reset Sauk Centre school record with a time of 1:40.49.

Here's video from the state meet today at the conclusion of the 200 FSR:


Here's a few comments immediately following today's action from Coach Schreiner:

Great job to the Mainstreeters for their efforts at the state meet!

Incredible first day at State Swimming

Led by a fifth-place finish by Tiana Molitor in the 100 backstroke, the Mainstreeters had an outstanding day of swimming in the preliminary round of the Class 1A state meet in Minneapolis today.

The 200 freestyle relay squad set a new school record and placed seventh in the preliminary round with a time of 1:40.51.

Here's a video from the Section 6A meet in Alexandria, featuring Tiana Molitor in the 100 backstroke:


More will appear in this week's Sauk Centre Herald. Check back on Wednesday afternoon for results from the championship round.

(Video) Boys' basketball scrimmage

Here's some action from the scrimmage vs. West Central Area:

13-team basketball scrimmage is Saturday

Action begins at 10 a.m. in Sauk Centre with a 13-team boys' basketball scrimmage.

Outstanding

The Sauk Centre Mainstreeters girls' swimming and diving team is sending six student-athletes to the Class 1A state meet after a truly outstanding day in the final round of the Section 6A meet in Alexandria.

Tiana Molitor advanced in both the 100 freestyle (second place) and the 100 backstroke (fourth place).
Hanna Waldhart is going to state in the 100 butterfly (fifth).
In the 200 freestyle relay, Waldhart, Molitor, Alyssa Kohorst and Julie Bushard is going to state after taking second at the section meet.
Finally, the 400 freestyle relay of Molitor, Waldhart, Sarah Nelson and Danielle Banal is going to state after setting a new school record in that event with a time of 3:43.08.

Great job, Mainstreeters! More details to follow on what is taking place next week.

Big time drops at Section 6A swimming and diving meet

For example, the 200 medley relay squad had a seed time of 2:04.21, but they shattered that at prelims last night with a time of 1:57.83 which was good for fourth place out of 11 teams. That Sauk Centre squad was made up of Emily Mensen, Julie Bushard, Sarah Nelson and Tracy Kortan.

Sarah Nelson came in seeded 11th in the 200 freestyle race, but the senior captain blew up that and her seed time (2:11.8) with a fifth-place finish and a time of 2:03.87. Kaylee Hanson shaved almost six seconds off her seed time in the 200 FS with a finish of 2:13.35. Savanna Metzger took over five seconds off her seed time in the 200 FS and finished with a time of 2:19.84.

All those seed times were beaten with just two events completed.

Quite the night at Section 6A prelims

Emily Mensen, Sarah Nelson and Alyssa Kohorst.

A large group of Mainstreeters cheer on the 400 freestyle relay squad in tonight's final event.

At the 11-team Section 6A girls' swimming and diving preliminary round tonight, the Sauk Centre Mainstreeters had numerous drops in times - including some huge drops - to build a great deal of momentum heading into the finals on Saturday.

Head coach James Schreiner had this to say after the last race tonight, "Holy Cow!!!!  We had some amazing swims. I wouldn't even know where to start there were so many! I'm so happy for them all. What a great way to represent our school."


Here's more of what Coach Schreiner had to say after prelims tonight:


 Action resumes on Saturday at Discovery Middle School with diving at 11 a.m. in Alexandria.

Shania Baum in the 100 breaststroke prelims. PHOTO BY TIM MIECZKOWSKI

One example of the huge drops Sauk Centre swimmers had in times was with freshmen Sarah Bushard in the 100 breaststroke event. Her seed time was 1:21.58, good for 25th place coming into the night. She turned in a lifetime best time of 1:16.08, good for ninth place in the field and putting her in the finals round.
That type of night brings this type of smile...!

Sarah Bushard right after hearing her name announced as a qualifier for the 100 breaststroke finals.

Tracy Kortan with the lap board while cheering for Josephine Mensen in the 500 FS. PHOTO BY TIM MIECZKOWSKI

In another example of a stellar performance, senior Josephine Mensen swam the 500 freestyle race with a career-best time and dropped under six minutes for the first time ever.

Menley Rehm flies off the block in the 500 freestyle race. PHOTO BY TIM MIECZKOWSKI

Coach Schreiner giving some last-minute instructions. PHOTO BY TIM MIECZKOWSKI

Additional details will follow tomorrow as well as Saturday night after the conclusion of the meet.